Image processing apparatus and image processing method

ABSTRACT

Print data is input from a computer, and a main translator of an image processing apparatus analyzes the print data, and performs an output data process. In addition, a sub-translator analyzes the print data, performs an external reference data obtaining process through a network, holds the obtained external reference data in a storage device, and manages the data in a resource management table. When the main translator requires the external reference data, it performs the output data process using the external reference data managed in the resource management table. Thus, the output data process and the external resource pre-reading process are simultaneously performed, thereby improving the throughput of the entire system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and animage processing method for processing output data based on the printdata from a host computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, with an increasing number of various digital copying machineswidely spread, systems capable of connecting various interface devicesto the digital copying machines and outputting image data from the hostcomputer have been developed.

However, since these systems sequentially interpret input document datawhen a document referring to external data is output, and obtain theexternal data when an external data reference instruction is issued, anoutput data process is suspended until an external data obtainingprocess has been completed, thereby reducing the throughput of theentire system.

Additionally, since these systems sequentially interpret input documentdata when a document referring to external data is output, and if anexternal data reference instruction is actually issued, obtain theexternal data each time the external data reference instruction isactually issued, data can be wastefully obtained when a plurality ofdocuments refer to the same external data.

Furthermore, when external data is obtained in the same job, and when ittakes a long time to obtain data due to the delay in a network, etc. thedata is waited without processing other jobs or pages, thereby reducingthe throughput of the entire system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed to solve the above mentionedproblems. An object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing apparatus and an image processing method capable ofsimultaneously performing an output data process and an externalresource pre-reading process to improve the throughput of the entiresystem.

Another object of the present invention is to effectively utilize theresources by deleting and updating the resources based on the frequencyat which fetched resources are referred to.

A further object of the present invention is to save the document dataof a job or a page requiring external data in a storage device when theexternal data cannot be obtained in the job or the page, process thedocument data of the next job or the next page, and improve thethroughput of the entire system.

To attain the above mentioned purpose, an image processing apparatusperforming an output data process based on print data, comprising: inputmeans for inputting the print data; first process means for analyzingthe input print data, and generating output data; and second processmeans for analyzing the input print data, and obtaining data linked fromthe print data through a network, wherein said first process meansperforms an output data process using data obtained by said secondprocess means when the linked data is required, is provided according toan aspect of the present invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an imageprocessing apparatus performing an output data process based on printdata, comprising: input means for inputting the print data; firstprocess means for analyzing the input print data, and generating outputdata; second process means for analyzing the input print data, andobtaining data linked from the print data through a network; andmanagement means for managing the data obtained by said second processmeans, wherein said management means manages the data depending on thefrequency at which data is referred to, is provided.

According a further aspect of the present invention, an image processingapparatus performing an output data process based on print data,comprising: input means for inputting plural pages of the print data;first process means for analyzing input print data, and generatingoutput data; and second process means for obtaining data linked from theprint data through a network, wherein when said second process meanscannot obtain data, said first process means suspends a process on acorresponding page, and starts analyzing the print data of a subsequentpage, is provided.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an imageprocessing apparatus performing an output data process based on printdata, comprising: input means for inputting the print data of aplurality of jobs; first process means for analyzing input print data,and generating output data; and second process means for obtaining datalinked from the print data through a network, wherein when said secondprocess means cannot obtain data, said first process means suspends aprocess on a corresponding job, and starts analyzing the print data of asubsequent job, is provided.

Other objects of the present invention are more clearly described byreferring to the attached drawings and detailed descriptions below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the image processing system accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the image processing apparatus accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanation view showing the external resource processaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the resource management tableaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the command process by a main translator 301according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the command process by a sub-translator 302according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the resource forcibly obtaining process by themain translator according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the resource management tableaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the command process by the main translator 301according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the command process by the sub-translator 302according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the process of updating the obtained externalresources;

FIG. 12 shows the screen on which external resource process is set;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the resource forcibly obtaining process by themain translator 301 according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 shows the screen on which external resources are deleted orupdated;

FIG. 15 shows a confirmation screen when a [deletion] 1402 button ispressed;

FIG. 16 shows the outline of the saving operation according to a sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 shows the page status management table according to the sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the page saving process according to the sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 shows the outline of the job passing operation according to aseventh embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of the job passing operation according to theseventh embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The embodiments of the present invention are described below byreferring to the attached drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the image processing system accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, referencenumeral 100 denotes an image processing apparatus according to thepresent invention, reference numeral 120 denotes a host computer,reference numeral 130 denotes a network, reference numeral 140 denotesan interface cable, reference numeral 150 denotes a WWW server,reference numeral 200 denotes an image-forming device described later indetail. The image processing apparatus 100 inputs as print data thedocument data described in an XML-base language such as XHTML, SVG, etc.from the host computer 120 through the network 130, analyzes the printdata, obtains data from the host computer 120 or the WWW server 150using the identification information specifying external resources, forexample, a URI (uniform resource identifier) if the data contains acommand to refer to the external resources described later, andsimultaneously performs an external resource fetching process and aprinting process on the image-forming device 200, thereby enhancing thethroughput of the entire system.

External resources refer to image data, graphic data, etc. linked fromthe document data, and stored in a file different from the file of thedocument data.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 100 isexternally connected to the image-forming device 200 through theinterface cable 140, but can be built together with the image-formingdevice 200 in the same housing.

Furthermore, although the host computer 120 is connected through thenetwork 130, but it is obvious that the present invention is applicablewhen it is locally connected to the image processing apparatus 100.

In the image processing apparatus 100, reference numeral 101 denotes afirst CPU for controlling an input/output unit I/O other than theexternally connected image-forming device 200 through a first CPU bus102. To the first CPU bus 102, connected are an external I/F 103 whichis an interface to the network 130, first memory 104 storing the controlprogram, etc. of the first CPU bus 102, and an I/O bus controller 105for controlling an I/O bus described later. A bus controller 106 is alsoconnected to the first CPU bus 102 so that connection is made to asecond CPU bus of a second CPU described later.

Reference numeral 107 denotes an I/O bus controlled by the I/O buscontroller 105. A floppy disk drive (FDD) 108, a hard disk drive (HDD)109, an LCD controller 110, and a general purpose I/O, such as anoperation unit not shown in the attached drawings are connected to theI/O bus 107.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a second CPU for controlling the printingoperation for the image-forming device 200 and developing image data tobe stored in the frame memory described later. Reference numeral 112denotes a second CPU bus connected to the first CPU bus 102 through thebus controller 106. Reference numeral 113 denotes second memory intowhich a control program, etc. is loaded from the hard disk drive 109through the bus controller 106. The second memory 113 is also used forcommunications with the first CPU 101.

Reference numeral 114 denotes frame memory storing image data developedbased on the print data from the host computer 120. Reference numeral115 denotes an engine interface for controlling the image-forming device200, while conducting various settings. Reference numeral 116 denotes avideo bus exclusively used for transmitting image data developed by thesecond CPU 111 and stored in the frame memory 114 to the engineinterface 115.

When the external I/F 103 receives print data from the host computer 120through the network 130, and fetches (pre-reads) the external resourcesdescribed later, it controls access to the external network through arouter and a server not shown in the attached drawings according to thelocation information (URI) about the external resources based on theprotocol such as the HTTP, etc.

Described below is the configuration and the operation of theimage-forming device 200 connected to the image processing apparatus100.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the image-forming device according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral201 denotes an engine interface for transmitting and receiving data toand from the image processing apparatus 100 through the interface cable140. The image data transmitted from the image processing apparatus 100is expressed as a latent image on a photosensitive drum 203, and formedas an image by a developer 202. A paper delivery control unit 205delivers paper from a paper delivery unit 208 or an intermediate paperoutput tray 207 at an instruction from the image processing apparatus100, and sets the paper on a transfer drum 204.

Then, the image formed on the photosensitive drum 203 is transferred onthe paper set on the transfer drum 204, and the image is fixed by afixing unit 206. After fixing the image, the paper is either output to apaper output unit 209 or stored in the intermediate paper output tray207 at an instruction of the image processing apparatus 100.Furthermore, the image data read from a scanner 210 is processed by acontrol unit 211, and printed as the image data transmitted from theimage processing apparatus 100 is printed.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, a digital copying machine is describedas an image-forming device. However, the present invention is notlimited to this example, and can obviously be applied to a printer.

Described below is the process when the image processing apparatus 100pre-reads external reference data.

FIG. 3 shows the command process according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a maintranslator (interpreter) which is a module to be executed by the abovementioned second CPU 111, and process all print commands for print datainput from the host computer 120. That is, the main translator 301sequentially performs command processes. When a command to refer toexternal resources is issued, a resource management table 303 describedlater is referred to. If the resources have already been fetched by astorage device 304, a drawing process is performed using the resources.If they have not been fetched yet, then they are awaited. The image datagenerated in the drawing process performed based on the print data istransmitted to the image-forming device 200 and printed.

Reference numeral 302 denotes a sub-translator (simple interpreter)which is a module executed by the first CPU 101, and performs only anexternal resource fetching process. That is, the sub-translator 302analyzes the print data, accesses the location of the external resourcesthrough the external I/F 103 if the print data contains a command torefer to the external resources, fetches the external resources, andstores them in the storage device 304. Simultaneously, it assigns aunique ID to the fetched external resources, and records the externalresources in the resource management table 303 with the locationinformation about the external resources associated with the time atwhich the external resources are fetched. At this time, thesub-translator 302 transmits a command to request the external resourcesto the network using an HTTP (hyper text transfer protocol).

Described below is the resource management table 303 for management ofthe external resources stored in the storage device 304. The storagedevice 304 is controlled by the hard disk drive (HDD) 109 shown in FIG.1, and the resource management table 303 is defined in the second memory113.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the resource management tableaccording to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, on the resourcemanagement table, a unique ID is assigned to access the externalresources fetched to the storage device 304. As the location informationabout the resources, the URI of the resources is stored, and the timestamp is also stored for confirmation of the time at which the resourceshave been fetched.

Described below are the processes performed by the main translator 301and the sub-translator 302 when the external reference data is pre-read.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the command process performed by the maintranslator 301 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchartof the command process performed by the sub-translator 302 according tothe first embodiment.

First, in step S501, a command of the input print data is analyzed. Instep S502, it is checked whether or not the command the command has beenissued to refer to external resources. If a command is not issued torefer to external resources, control is passed to step S503, and thecommand process is performed. In the process in step S503, a drawingprocess is performed according to the command to generate image data.Then, in step S504, it is checked whether or not the command is thefinal command. If it is not the final command, then control is returnedto step S501, and the subsequent command is analyzed. If it isdetermined in step S504, that the command is the final command, then theprocess terminates.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S502 that the command hasbeen issued to refer to the external resources, then control is passedto step S505 to refer to the resource management table 303. If therequested resources have not been fetched in step S506, then fetchingthe resources by the sub-translator 302 is awaited. If the requestedresources have been fetched, then control is passed to step S507, andthe external resource process is performed. In the external resourceprocess in step S507, image data is generated such that the obtainedexternal resources can be printed in the format in which they areinserted. Then, control is passed to step S504 to check whether or notthe command is the final command. If it is not the final command, thenthe above mentioned process is performed. If it is the final command,then the process terminates.

On the other hand, the sub-translator 302 performs an external resourceobtaining process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6. In stepS601 shown in FIG. 6, a command of the input print data is analyzed, andit is checked in step S602 whether or not the command has been issued torefer to the external resources. If the command is not issued to referto the external resources, then control is passed to step S606, and itis checked whether or not the command is the final command. If it is notthe final command, control is returned to step S601, and the subsequentcommand is analyzed. If it is the final command, then the processterminates.

If it is determined in step S602 that the command has been issued torefer to the external resources, then control is passed to step S603,and it is checked whether or not the resources have already beenobtained. If the resources have already been obtained, then control ispassed to step S606, and the above mentioned process is performed. Ifthe resources have not been obtained, then control is passed to stepS604, the external resources are obtained from the external I/F 103, andthe resource management table 303 is updated in step S605. Then, controlis passed to step S606, and the above mentioned process is performed.

According to the first embodiment, a main translator (interpreter) fordoing a normal data analysis and a sub-translator (simple interpreter)only for referring to resources are used when an image process isperformed by fetching the resources in the network so that onetranslator analyzes data, the other translator fetches resources, andlocally fetched resources are used to output data. As a result, thelocally fetched resources can be used when they are actually required,and the time taken in fetching external resources, which is normallyconsiderably long, can be shortened, thereby enhancing the throughput ofthe entire system.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment of the present invention is described below indetail by referring to the attached drawings.

According to the first embodiment, all external resources are obtainedby the sub-translator 302 in advance, and the main translator 301 shalluse the resources stored in the storage device 304. However, theoriginal data of specific resources can be frequently updated, and it isdesired to use the latest resources.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the resource obtainingprocess is forcibly performed on the specific resources so that thelatest possible resources can be obtained.

The configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 according to thesecond embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment,and only the difference from the first embodiment is described below.

First, according to the second embodiment, the specific resources to beforcibly obtained are specified by the host computer 120 or theoperating unit of the image processing apparatus 100. As in the firstembodiment, the command process is performed by the main translator 301and the sub-translator 302.

Described below is the process of forcibly obtaining external resourceswhen the external reference data is pre-read.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the process of forcibly obtaining resources bythe main translator. First, in step S701, the command of the input printdata is analyzed. In step S702, it is checked whether or not the commandhas been issued to refer to external resources. If the command has notbeen issued to refer to the external resources, control is passed tostep S703, and the command is processed. Then, in step S704, it ischecked whether or not the command is the final command. If it is notthe final command, control is returned to step S701, and the subsequentcommand is analyzed. If it is the final command in step S704, theprocess terminates.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S702 that the command hasbeen issued to refer to the external resources, then control is passedto step S705, and it is further checked whether or not an instruction toforcibly obtain the external resources has been issued. If theinstruction has been issued, then control is passed to step S709, theprocess of forcibly obtaining the external resources is performed, andcontrol is passed to step S704. In the forcible external resourceobtaining process in step S709, an instruction is issued directly to thesub-translator 302 to obtain specified external resources. Then, imagedata is generated based on the forcibly obtained external resources. Ifthe instruction to forcibly obtain the external resources has not beenissued, then control is passed to step S706 to refer to the resourcemanagement table 303. Then, if the requested resources have not beenobtained yet in step S707, then obtaining the resources by thesub-translator 302 is awaited. If the requested resources have alreadybeen obtained, then control is passed to step S708, the process ofreferring to the external resources is performed, and control is passedto step S704.

According to the second embodiment, the latest data of the resourceswhose original data is frequently updated can be used by forciblyobtaining specific resources in addition to the effect of the firstembodiment.

According to the second embodiment, specific resources are selected andforcibly obtained. However, all resources can be forcibly obtained. Inthis case, all resources are forcibly obtained, but referencing externalresources in the same document does not obtain the resources again,thereby successfully improving the throughput of the entire system.

As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, sincethe process of outputting data and the process of pre-reading externalresources can be simultaneously performed, the throughput of the entiresystem can be enhanced.

Third Embodiment

The third embodiment of the present invention is described below indetail by referring to the attached drawings.

The configuration of the image processing system according to the thirdembodiment is the same as the configurations of the image processingsystems according to the first and second embodiments described above byreferring to FIGS. 1 to 3. Therefore, the detailed explanation isomitted here.

According to the third embodiment, resources can be deleted or updateddepending on the frequency of reference to the fetched resources inaddition to the external resources process according to the first andsecond embodiments. As a result, the resources can be effectivelyutilized, and the convenience can be improved for users.

That is, the main translator 301 shown in FIG. 3 performs a serialcommand process, and determines whether or not the external resourceshave been fetched to the storage device 304 by referring to the resourcemanagement table 303 when the command to refer to the external resourcesis detected. If the external resources have already been fetched, themain translator 301 updates a reference frequency counter describedlater, and then performs the printing process using the externalresources. If the external resources have not been fetched yet, itawaits the external resources to be fetched. The sub-translator 302checks the reference frequency counter recorded in the resourcemanagement table at predetermined time intervals, and deletes theexternal resources if the count value of the reference frequency counteris smaller than the deletion frequency, and automatically updates theexternal resources if the count value is larger than the updatefrequency. The deletion frequency used in the deletion determination andthe update frequency used in the automatic update determination can havethe same or different values.

The resource management table containing the reference frequency counteris described below. The resource management table according to the thirdembodiment is stored in the storage device 304 as in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the resource management tableaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 8, a resource management table 800 is assigned a unique ID 801 foraccess to the external resources fetched to the storage device 304 shownin FIG. 3, stores a URI 802 of the external resources as the locationinformation about the resources, and stores a time stamp 803 forconfirmation of the time at which the external resources were fetched. Areference frequency counter 804 is updated by a command to refer toexternal resources, and deletes or automatically updates the externalresources.

Described below is the command process performed by the main translator301 and the sub-translator 302 when the external reference data ispre-read.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the command process performed by the maintranslator 301 according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the command process performed bythe sub-translator 302 according to the third embodiment.

First, in step S901, the command of the input print data is analyzed. Instep S902, it is checked whether or not the command has been issued torefer to external resources. If the command has not been issued to referto the external resources, control is passed to step S903, and thecommand is processed. Then, in step S904, it is checked whether or notthe command is the final command. If it is not the final command,control is returned to step S901, and the subsequent command isanalyzed. If it is the final command in step S904, the processterminates.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S902 that the command hasbeen issued to refer to the external resources, then control is passedto step S905 to refer to the resource management table 800. Then, if therequested resources have not been obtained yet in step S906, thenobtaining the resources by the sub-translator 302 is awaited. If therequested resources have already been obtained, then control is passedto step S907, the reference frequency counter 804 of the resourcemanagement table 800 is updated, control is passed to step S908, and theexternal resource process is performed. Then, control is passed to stepS904, it is checked whether or not it is the final command. If it is notthe final command, the above mentioned process is performed. If it isthe final command, then the process terminates.

On the other hand, the sub-translator 302 analyzes the command of theinput print data in step S1001 shown in FIG. 10. In step S1002, it ischecked whether or not the command has issued to refer to the externalresources. If the command has not been issued to refer to the externalresources, then control is passed to step S1006, and it is checkedwhether or not the command is the final command. If it is not the finalcommand, then control is returned to step S1001, and the subsequentcommand is analyzed. If it is the final command, then the processterminates.

If it is determined in step S1002 that the command has been issued torefer to the external resources, then control is passed to step S1003,and it is checked whether or not the external resources have alreadybeen obtained. If the external resources have already been obtained,then control is passed to step S1006, and the above mentioned process isperformed. If the external resources have not been obtained, thencontrol is passed to step S1004, the external I/F 103 obtains theexternal resources, and the resource management table 800 is updated instep S1005. Then, control is passed to step S1006, and the abovementioned process is performed.

Then, the reference frequency counter 804 of the resource managementtable 800 is checked at predetermined time intervals, and the process ofthe sub-translator 302 deleting or automatically updating the externalresources based on the count value is described.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the process of updating the obtained externalresources. First, in step S1101, it is checked whether or not it is timeto update the external resources. If a predetermined time interval haspassed, then control is passed to step S1102, and the referencefrequency counter 804 for the external resources managed in order fromthe start of the resource management table 800 is checked. It isdetermined in step S1103 whether or not the count value of the referencefrequency counter 804 is smaller than the deletion frequency set fordetermination of deletion. If it is smaller than the deletion frequency,then control is passed to step S1104, the external resources are deletedfrom the storage device 304, and the entry (the ID 801, the URI 802, thetime stamp 803, and the reference frequency counter 804) of the externalresources is deleted from the resource management table 800 in thefollowing step S1105.

Then, in step S1109, it is checked whether or not there is an item inthe resource management table 800. If there are any items remaining,control is returned to step S1102, and the above mentioned process iscontinued. If there are no items remaining, the process terminates.

On the other hand, in step S1103, if the external resources have beenreferred to more frequently than the deletion frequency of the externalresources to be deleted, then control is passed to step S1106, and it isfurther checked whether or not the count value of the referencefrequency counter 804 of the external resources is larger than theupdate frequency set for determination as to whether or not the updatingprocess is to be performed. If the value is larger than the updatefrequency, then control is passed to step S1107, the external resourcesare obtained again, and the time stamp 803 of the external resources ofthe resource management table 800 are updated. When the count value issmaller than the update frequency in step S1106, control is passed tostep S1108 when the external resources have been obtained in step S1107,and the reference frequency counter 804 of the external resources of theresource management table 800 is cleared.

Then, in step S1109, it is checked whether or not an item exists in theresource management table 800. If there is an item remaining in theresource management table 800, then control is returned to step S1102 tocontinue the above mentioned process. If there is no item remaining inthe resource management table 800, then the process terminates.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, when theimage process is performed by fetching the resources in the network, amain translator (interpreter) for normally analyzing data, and asub-translator (simple interpreter) only for referring to the resourcesare provided, data is analyzed and simultaneously the resources arefetched, data is output using the locally fetched resources, the locallyfetched resources can be used when the resources are actually required,thereby shortening the time taken to fetch external resources, whichnormally takes a long time, and improving the throughput of the entiresystem.

Furthermore, by deleting and updating resources depending on thereference frequency of the fetched resources, the resources can beeffectively utilized, and the convenience of the user can be improved.

Fourth Embodiment

The fourth embodiment of the present invention is described below byreferring to the attached drawings.

According to the third embodiment, the sub-translator 302 obtains allexternal resources in advance, the main translator 301 always uses theresources stored in the storage device 304, and the obtained externalresources are automatically deleted or updated depending on thereference frequency. However, there are cases where the externalresources are not to be deleted regardless of the frequency, theoriginal data of specific resources are frequently updated, or thenewest possible resources are to be used.

Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, a process is performedsuch that the latest possible resources can be obtained by suppressingautomatic deletion or update, or forcibly obtaining specific resources.

The configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 according to thefourth embodiment is the same as the configuration according to thethird embodiment, and only the differences from the third embodiment aredescribed below.

First, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, thespecific resources to be forcibly obtained are to be designated by thehost computer 120 or the operation unit of the image processingapparatus 100. Then, as in the third embodiment, a command process isperformed by the main translator 301 and the sub-translator 302.

FIG. 12 shows the screen on which an external resource process is set.In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1201 denotes setting automatic deletionfor setting whether or not external resources having a low referencefrequency are to be deleted. Reference numeral 1202 denotes settingautomatic update for setting whether or not external resources having ahigh reference frequency are to be updated. Reference numeral 1203denotes setting cache data for setting whether or not already obtainedexternal resources are to be used. The initial values of the settingsare ‘to be deleted’ 1204 for the ‘automatic deletion’ 1201, ‘to beupdated’ 1205 for the ‘automatic update’ 1202, and ‘to be used’ 1206 forthe ‘cache data’ 1203 in the examples shown in FIG. 12.

By setting ‘not to be deleted’ 1207 for the ‘automatic deletion’ 1201,external resources are not deleted regardless of the reference frequencyof the external resources. By setting ‘not to be updated’ 1208 for the‘automatic update’ 1202, external resources are not updatedautomatically. When external resources are not automatically updated,the data to be actually output can be obsolete. In this case, it isdesired that the ‘cache data’ 1203 is set as ‘not to be used’ 1209 toalways obtain external resources. When the settings are changed, an ‘OK’1210 is pressed so that the change can be effective. When ‘Cancel’ 1211is pressed, the changes up to that point are nullified.

When external reference data is pre-read, the ‘cache data’ 1203 is setas ‘not to be used’ 1209, and the process of forcible obtaining externalresources is described below.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the process of forcibly obtaining resources bythe main translator. First, in step S1301, the command of the inputprint data is analyzed. In step S1302, it is checked whether or not thecommand has been issued to refer to external resources. If the commandhas not been issued to refer to the external resources, control ispassed to step S1303, and the command is processed. Then, in step S1304,it is checked whether or not the command is the final command. If it isnot the final command, control is returned to step S1301, and thesubsequent command is analyzed. If it is the final command in stepS1304, the process terminates.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1302 that the commandhas been issued to refer to the external resources, then control ispassed to step S1305, and it is further checked whether or not aninstruction to forcibly obtain the external resources has been issued.If the instruction has been issued, then control is passed to stepS1309, the forcible external resource process is performed, and controlis passed to step S1304. If the instruction to forcibly obtain theexternal resources has not been issued, then control is passed to stepS1306 to refer to the resource management table 800. Then, if therequested resources have not been obtained yet in step S1307, thenobtaining the resources by the sub-translator 302 is awaited. If therequested resources have already been obtained, then control is passedto step S1308, the external resource process is performed, and controlis passed to step S1304.

According to the fourth embodiment, the latest data of the resourceswhose original data is frequently updated can be used by forciblyobtaining specific resources in addition to the effect of the thirdembodiment.

According to the fourth embodiment, specific resources are selected andforcibly obtained. However, all resources can be forcibly obtained. Inthis case, all resources are forcibly obtained, but referencing externalresources in the same document does not obtain the resources again,thereby successfully improving the throughput of the entire system.

Fifth Embodiment

The fifth embodiment of the present invention is described below indetail by referring to the attached drawings.

According to the third and fourth embodiments, external resources aredeleted or updated depending on the frequency in reference to theexternal resources and a predetermined timing. However, according to thefifth embodiment, obtained external resources are deleted or updated atan optional timing.

FIG. 14 shows the screen on which external resources are deleted orupdated. As shown in FIG. 14, a list of already obtained externalresources is displayed. If a user selects external resources to bedeleted or updated, the selected external resources are inverselydisplayed as shown by 1401 in FIG. 14. After selecting the externalresources from the list, a ‘deletion’ 1402 button is pressed fordeletion, and a ‘update’ 1403 button is pressed for update. Either ofthe buttons is pressed, the confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 15 ispop-up displayed.

FIG. 15 shows a confirmation screen displayed when the ‘deletion’ 1402button is pressed. Although not shown in the attached drawings, asimilar confirmation screen is displayed when the ‘update’ 1403 buttonis pressed. If a ‘yes’ 1501 button is pressed, selected externalresources can be deleted (or updated). If a ‘no’ 1502 button is pressed,the process is canceled, control is returned to the screen shown in FIG.14, and external resources can be selected again. If a ‘cancel’ 1404button shown in FIG. 14 is pressed, exit is made from the externalresource selection screen.

According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, externalresources obtained at an optional timing can be deleted or updated, andthe convenience of a user can be improved.

Sixth Embodiment

The sixth embodiment of the present invention is described below byreferring to the attached drawings.

The configuration of the image processing system according to the sixthembodiment of the present invention. is the same as the configurationsaccording to the first to fifth embodiments described above by referringto FIGS. 1 to 15, and the descriptions are omitted here.

According to the sixth embodiment, when it takes a long time to obtainexternal resources due to a delay, etc. in communications on a pagerequiring the external resources, the print data on the correspondingpage can be temporarily saved in the storage device 304, and the processon the next page is performed, thereby improving the process efficiencyof the entire system.

FIG. 16 shows the outline of the saving operation according to the sixthembodiment. In FIG. 16, the portion encompassed by <svg> and </svg> is apiece of job data (document data). In the data, a plurality of portionsencompassed by <page> and </page> are pages to be printed. In theexample shown in FIG. 16, a command (a type of command to refer toexternal resources) to obtain an image (<image xlink:href=“http:// . . .//”/>) is executed on the first page. However, if the sub-translator 302cannot obtain the image data within a predetermined time-out due to adelay, etc. in the network, the main translator 301 temporarily savesthe already generated image data for one page in the storage device 304,records the saving process in the page state management table describedlater, and starts the process of the next page.

FIG. 17 shows the page state management table according to the sixthembodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, a page state management table 1700holds a page state 1702 as to whether the page of a page number 1701 issaved or the process has been completed. In the example shown in FIG.17, the first and third pages are saved because the image cannot beobtained within a time-out, and the process of the second page is firstcompleted. When the process of a new page is started, the system entersa page processing state.

When the main translator 301 shown in FIG. 3 requires external resourcesduring the process of the print command on the first page based on theprint data input from the host computer 120, the sub-translator 302fetches the external resources through the network. However, when ittakes a long time to obtain the external resources due to a delay, etc.in the communications, the main translator 301 temporarily saves theimage data of the corresponding page in the storage device 304, andperforms the process on the next page as described below.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the saving process according to the sixthembodiment of the present invention. First, in step S1801, the maintranslator 301 refers to the page state 1702 of the page statemanagement table 1700, and it is confirmed whether or not the page hasalready been translated by the main translator 301. At this time, if ithas already been translated, then control is passed to step S1802, thesubsequent page is processed, and control is returned to step S1801. Ifobtaining of the image is awaited on the page or a new page is to beprocessed in step S1801, control is passed to step S1803, the commandcorresponding the page is analyzed, and it is determined whether or notthe current command is a command to obtain an image. If it is not acommand to obtain an image, control is passed to step S1805, and theprocess corresponding to the command is performed as in step S503.

If the current command is a command to obtain an image, control ispassed to step S1804. If the sub-translator 302 can obtain an imagewithout any problem, control is passed to step S1805, and the commandprocess is continued. If an image cannot be normally obtained, thencontrol is passed to step S1806, and the cause of the problem ischecked. If the problem of obtaining no image data is caused by anythingbut a time-out (for example, no corresponding image data, illegal imagedata format, etc.), then control is passed to step S1807, and theprocess corresponding to each error is performed. The details of eacherror process are not prescribed.

On the other hand, if the problem of obtaining no image data is causedby a time-out in step S1806, then control is passed to step S1808, andgenerated image data for one page is saved in the storage device 304.Then, in step S1809, the page state 1702 on the page number 1701 of thepage state management table 1700 is changed into ‘awaiting an image tobe obtained’, control is passed to the next page in step S1810, controlis returned to step S1801, and the above mentioned process is continued.

Then, it is confirmed in step S1811 whether or not the current commandis the final command of the page. If the end of page is not reached,control is returned to step S1801, and the above mentioned process iscontinued. If the current command is the final command of the page, thencontrol is passed to step S1812, and the page state of the page statemanagement table 1700 is changed into ‘translation completed’. In stepS1813, the page state 1702 of the page state management table 1700 isreferred to, and it is confirmed whether or not there is a page in await state for an obtained image. If there is a page in the wait statefor an obtained image, then control is passed to step S1814, the imagedata on the corresponding page saved in the storage device 304 isfetched again, control is returned to step S1801, and the abovementioned process is continued.

If there is no page in the wait state for an obtained image in stepS1813, then control is passed to step S1815, and it is determinedwhether or not the current page is the final page of the job. If thepage is not the final page, control is passed to step S1816, the nextpage is entered, and the process is continued. If the page is the finalpage of the job, the process terminates.

According to the sixth embodiment, the page in the wait state for anobtained image is fetched again when the next page is completelyprocessed. However, the processes on all pages can be first completed,and then the page in the wait state for an obtained image can beprocessed.

According to the sixth embodiment, when obtaining image data is delayedin the same job, the translating process on the pages subsequent to thepage is started. A page requiring no image to be obtained can beprocessed by priority, thereby improving the throughput of the entiresystem.

Seventh Embodiment

The seventh embodiment of the present invention is described below indetail by referring to the attached drawings.

According to the seventh embodiment, in addition to the processaccording to the sixth embodiment, if it is set that a job can be passedin case the image data obtaining process is delayed in the job, then theinformation about the job being processed is saved, the process of thenext job is started, and the process of the saved job is resumed whenthe process of the next job is completed.

FIG. 19 shows the outline of a job passing operation according to theseventh embodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, if there is a command to obtainan image in the job being processed, and the obtaining process isdelayed, then the generated image data and the document data of the jobare saved, and the process is started on the next job. When the processon the next job is completed, the saved image data and document data arefetched again, and the process is resumed from the command to obtain theimage.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of the job passing process according to theseventh embodiment. First, in step S2001, the job passing process is setas permitted. Then, in step S2002, it is confirmed whether or not thecurrent command is to obtain an image. If it is not a command to obtainan image, control is passed to step S2004, and the process correspondingto the command is performed. If it is a command to obtain an image, thencontrol is passed to step S2003. If the sub-translator 302 can obtain animage without problem, then control is passed to step S2004, and thecommand process is continued. If the image cannot be normally obtained,then control is passed to step S2005, and the cause of the problem ischecked. If the problem of obtaining no image is caused by anything buta time-out (for example, no corresponding image, illegal image format,etc.), then control is passed to step S2006, and the processcorresponding to each error is performed. The details of each errorprocess are not prescribed.

On the other hand, if the problem of obtaining no image is caused by atime-out in step S2005, then control is passed to step S2007, and it ischecked whether or not passing a job is permitted. If it is notpermitted in step S2007, then control is returned to step S2002, and animage obtaining process is attempted again. If it is permitted, thencontrol is passed to step S2008, and already generated image data andjob data are saved in the storage device 304. Then, in step S2009,passing a job is set as ‘not permitted’, and control is passed to thenext job in step S2010, thereby continuing the process.

Then, it is determined whether or not the current command is the finalcommand of the page in step S2011. If the end of the page has not beenreached, then control is passed to step S2002, and the above mentionedprocess is continued. If the current command is the final command of thepage, then control is passed to step S2012, and it is determined whetheror not the page is the final page of the job. If the page is not thefinal page, then control is returned to step S2002, and the abovementioned process is continued. If the page is the final page of thejob, then control is passed to step S2013, and it is checked whether ornot there is a saved job. If there is a saved job, then control ispassed to step S2014, the job is fetched again, control is returned tostep S2001, and the process is continued. If there is not a saved job,the process terminates.

The process of passing a job can be set by the user interface providedby a printer driver of a host computer for each job, or can be set by anoperation panel of the image processing apparatus each time the processis required.

According to the seventh embodiment, when the process of obtaining animage is delayed during the job requiring the image, and the documentdata of the job is saved and the next job is executed, thereby improvingthe throughput of the entire system.

The present invention can also be applied to a system comprising aplurality of appliances (for example, a host computer, an interfaceunit, a reader, a printer, etc.), or can be applied to a systemcomprising a single appliance (for example, a copying machine, afacsimile device, etc.).

Additionally, it is obvious that the object of the present invention canalso be attained by providing a storage medium storing a program code ofthe software for realizing the function according to the above mentionedembodiments for a system or a device, and by the computer (CPU or MPU)of the system or the device reading and executing the program codestored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage mediumrealizes the functions of the above mentioned embodiments, and thestorage medium storing the program code forms part of the presentinvention.

The storage medium for providing program code can be, for example, afloppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk,CD-ROM, CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc.

Furthermore, by the computer executing the read program code, thefunctions of the above mentioned embodiments can be realized, and the OS(operating system), etc. operated by the computer can perform all or apart of the actual process, and the process can realize the functions ofthe above mentioned embodiments.

In addition, after the program code read from the storage medium iswritten to the memory provided in a function extending board insertedinto the computer or the function extending unit connected to thecomputer, the CPU, etc. in the function extending board or the functionextending unit can perform all or a part of the actual process at aninstruction of the program code, and the functions of the abovementioned embodiments can be realized by the process.

The present invention has been described above in detail by referring tothe preferred embodiments, but it is not limited to the above mentionedembodiments, but can be applied to various applications in the rangedescribed in the claims below.

1. (canceled)
 2. An image processing apparatus generating output databased on print data comprising: an input unit adapted to input the printdata; a first process unit adapted to analyze the input print data togenerate output data to be output to an image forming unit; a secondprocess unit adapted to obtain data linked from the print data through anetwork; a storage unit adapted to store the data obtained by saidsecond process unit; a counter adapted to count the frequency at whichsaid first process unit refers to the data stored in said storage unit;and a management unit adapted to obtain data through the network toupdate the data stored in said storage unit, depending on the frequencycounted by said counter, wherein said first process unit refers to thedata stored in said storage unit to generate the output data.
 3. Theapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said management unit deletes thedata stored in said storage unit when the frequency of the data is lowerthan a predetermined value, and updates the data stored in said storageunit when the frequency of the data is equal to or higher than thepredetermined value.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidmanagement unit updates data at a predetermined timing or an optionaltiming.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said managementunit deletes data at a predetermined timing or an optional timing. 6.The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined value canbe optionally set when the external reference at is deleted and when thedata is updated.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidmanagement unit comprises a setting unit adapted to set whether or notthe data stored in said storage unit is to be updated depending on thefrequency counted by said counter.
 8. An image processing apparatusgenerating output data based on print data comprising: an input unitadapted to input the print data to be printed on a plurality of pages; afirst process unit adapted to analyze the input print data correspondingto each page to generate output data to be output to an image formingunit; and a second process unit adapted to obtain data linked from theinput print data through a network, wherein, when said second processunit cannot obtain data linked from the input print data correspondingto one page of the plurality of pages within a predetermined time, saidfirst process unit suspends a process on the one page and startsanalyzing the input print data corresponding to another page of theplurality of pages, and then, when said second process unit obtains thedata, said first process unit inserts the data obtained by said secondprocess unit in output data generated based on the input print datacorresponding to the one page.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8,wherein said image processing apparatus is connected through a network.10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a managementunit adapted to hold and manage the data obtained by said second processunit and identification information for identification of the data. 11.The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said management unit holds atime at which external reference data is updated.
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein said first process unit forcibly updatesthe linked data, and performs an output data process using externalreference data.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein theoutput data process is performed without using the data obtained by saidsecond process unit and managed by said management unit.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an image forming unitadapted to print an image based on the output data.
 15. The apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein said image forming unit is connectedthrough a cable.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein saidimage forming unit is a digital copying machine or a printer.
 17. Theapparatus according to claim 8, wherein said second process unit doesnot obtain plural times the data linked from the same print data.
 18. Animage processing apparatus generating output data based on print datacomprising: an input unit adapted to input the print data of a pluralityof jobs; a first process unit adapted to analyze the input print datacorresponding to each job to generate output data to be output to animage forming unit; and a second process unit adapted to obtain datalinked from the input print data through a network, wherein, when saidsecond process unit cannot obtain data linked from the input print dataof one job of the plurality of jobs within a predetermined time, saidfirst process unit suspends a process on the one job and startsanalyzing the input print data of another job of the plurality of jobs,and then, when said second process unit obtains the data, said firstprocess unit inserts the data obtained by said second process unit inoutput data generated based on the input print data corresponding to theone job.
 19. A method of an image processing apparatus generating outputdata based on print data comprising: an input step of inputting theprint data; a first process step of analyzing the input print data togenerate output data to be output an image forming unit; a secondprocess step of obtaining data linked from the print data through anetwork; a storage step of storing the data obtained in the secondprocess step; a counting step of counting the frequency at which saidfirst process unit refers to the data stored in the storage step; and amanagement step of obtaining data through the network to update the datastored in the storage step, depending on the frequency counted in thecounting step, wherein said first process step refers to the data storedin the storage step to generate the output data.
 20. A method of animage processing apparatus generating output data based on print datacomprising: an input step of inputting the print data to be printed on aplurality of pages; a first process step of analyzing the input printdata corresponding to each page to generate output data to be output toan image forming unit; and a second process step of obtaining datalinked from the input print data through a network, wherein, when thesecond process step cannot obtain data linked from the input print datacorresponding to one page of the plurality of pages within apredetermined time, the first process step suspends a process on the onepage and starts analyzing the input print data corresponding to anotherpage of the plurality of pages, and then, when said second process unitobtains the data, said first process unit inserts the data obtained inthe second process step in output data generated based on the inputprint data corresponding to the one page.
 21. A computer-readablestorage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute aprogram defined in claim
 19. 22. A computer-readable storage mediumstoring a program for causing a computer to execute a program defined inclaim 20.